Car bomb explodes outside Bank of Greece in Athens

Forensic experts search for evidence on a street where a car bomb went off in Athens April 10, 2014.(Reuter / Alkis Konstantinidis)

A car explosive has detonated outside a Bank of Greece building in central Athens. The blast smashed windows in shops, but left no injuries.

The explosion came as the country prepares to enter the
international bond market for the first time in four years, since
the debt crisis in 2010, and a day before German Chancellor
Angela Merkel’s visit to the Greek capital.

The warning about the car bomb came with an anonymous call 45
minutes before the blast. The caller said that the bomb contained
70kg of explosives, a police official told Reuters.

No one immediately claimed responsibility, but security forces
believe it could be leftist or anarchist groups.

Makeshift bomb and arson attacks have hiked dramatically since
Greece implemented unpopular austerity measures in exchange for
multibillion euro bailouts by the EU and IMF four years ago.

Ahead of Chancellor Merkel’s visit, thousands of Greeks flooded
the streets staging a nationwide strike in protest of austerity.
Organizers of the strike say their anti-austerity message is
aimed at Germany, which has been ratcheting up the pressure for
more cuts in return for international loans to keep the Greek
economy afloat.

The strikers maintain the cuts only impact on the poor and leave
the political elite untouched.

In spite of claims from the German government that Merkel’s trip
is “a normal visit,” the Greek authorities have left no
stone unturned as far as security is concerned. Around 7,000
police have been drafted in from all over Greece to man the
streets of Athens.

In addition, during Merkel’s six hours of scheduled negotiations
with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, the government
district of Athens will be out of bounds to protesters.